Make Father’s Day a Forest Day

Surprise Dad this year with an eco-friendly outing to a well-managed forest near you. More than 285 million acres of forests throughout the U.S. and Canada are certified to the independent, non-profit Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Management Standard, stretching from Canada’s boreal forest to the U.S. South.

Ninety-eight percent of forests certified to SFI are open for public recreation, triple the amount of just 10 years ago. With more options than you could possibly take on in one day — from hiking and bird-watching to fishing and boating — your forest Father’s Day may be the start of an annual tradition.

Don’t worry. If Dad is set on grilling out, you’ll find plenty of places to picnic, too. Just don’t forget to bring paper cups and plates with the SFI label. The SFI label means the fiber used to make paper and wood products was sourced responsibly, meeting the strict, independent requirements of SFI. You’ll find the SFI label on paper products, office supplies, furniture, home-building materials, and even Father’s Day cards.

Beyond fun, games, and fatherly bonding, visiting a well-managed forest is a great way to support the planet together. A well-managed forest cleans our water and air, mitigates the effects of climate change, and provides the products we need for food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. Responsible forest management maintains this sustainability far into the future. Key principles include:

Biological diversity

Wildlife management, habitat improvement, and conservation

Prompt reforestation

Community outreach

Ongoing research to improve sustainable practices

So, why give Dad another gadget, golf club, or tie when it’s so easy to give him the world? To find out more about forest recreation, sustainable forestry, and the SFI label, visit sfiprogram.org.

The sponsored content above was provided by Sustainable Forestry Initiative and is not subject to TreeHugger Editorial Review. TreeHugger is not responsible for the accuracy, objectivity or balance of this content.